World Wildlife Day 2026: From rescue to rewilding, Kalo’s journey continues

He arrived at the Elephant Transit Home in Udawalawe on March 23, 2024, barely eight
months old. Kalo had spent an unknown number of days trapped at the bottom of an
abandoned well near Galenbidunuwewa in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura District, separated
from the herd he had lost. When wildlife officers from the Department of Wildlife
Conservation pulled him out, they found a frightened calf, but also something else:
resilience.
Today, nearly two years after his rescue, Kalo is no longer the fragile elephant calf who
arrived at the Transit Home alone. He is growing steadily, eating well, and has fully
integrated into a group of calves preparing for eventual release. His progress is measured
not only in size, but in behaviour like social bonding, herd interaction, and independent
foraging skills that will determine his readiness for life beyond human protection. Since his
arrival, Kalo has grown from 125 kilograms to over 300 kilograms. The wounds he
sustained before rescue have fully healed, and he is no longer on any specific medical
treatment instead routine management only. He is, by every measure, active, playful, and
thriving.
The Elephant Transit Home, also known as Ath Athuru Sevana, has operated within
Udawalawe National Park since 1995. It is not an orphanage in the traditional sense.
There are no rides, no performances, no human dependency. Human contact is limited
strictly to feeding and veterinary care. The rest of the time, the calves are left to bond with
one another.
That philosophy is intentional. Elephants are deeply social animals, and calves that grow
too attached to humans struggle to survive in the wild. The daily play, the hierarchy, and
the formation of peer bonds are all part of a structured rehabilitation process designed to
prepare them for rewilding.
Since its establishment, more than 200 orphaned elephants have passed through the
Elephant Transit Home. Over 100 have been successfully released back into the wild. In
July 2025 alone, six young elephants were returned to Udawalawe National Park during
the facility’s 26th release. If all continues as planned, Kalo will follow that path in 2029.

On May 8, 2024, less than two months after Kalo’s rescue, Sun Siyam Pasikudah
formalised its long-term commitment to his care through the CarePhant initiative under
Sun Siyam Care. The resort pledged ongoing monthly contributions to support Kalo’s
nutrition, veterinary care, and daily rehabilitation needs through to his planned release.
Sun Siyam Care is the group’s overarching sustainability programme that integrates
environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, community engagement, and long-
term socio-economic value creation across all Sun Siyam Resorts in the Maldives and Sri
Lanka. Through Sun Siyam Care, we invest in initiatives that protect marine and terrestrial
ecosystems, reduce waste and single-use plastics, improve resource efficiency, support
renewable energy and local sourcing, and promote awareness and participation among
guests and communities alike. Kalo’s journey from rescue to rewilding is one example of
how Sun Siyam Care extends beyond hospitality, connecting responsible tourism with
meaningful environmental and wildlife conservation impact.
“We are delighted to embark on the CarePhant project and become stewards of Kalo’s
well-being. Sri Lanka’s elephants are not just a conservation issue; they are part of the
living identity of this island, and we feel a genuine responsibility to play our part in
protecting them,” said Arshed Refai, General Manager, Sun Siyam Pasikudah.
For Chaminda Upul Kumara, Sustainability Project Manager at Sun Siyam Resorts, the
commitment reflects the deeper purpose of Sun Siyam Care. “Conservation is not a single
moment. It is a process that requires patience and consistency. With Kalo, we committed
to being part of that journey from rescue to release. Every month of support is an
investment in his return to the wild,” said Upul.
In the month that marks World Wildlife Day, observed on 03rd March, Kalo’s story serves
as a reminder that conservation is not abstract. It is individual. It is long term. And it
depends on partnerships between public institutions and responsible private sector actors.
In a landscape where habitat loss and human–elephant conflict continue to threaten Sri
Lanka’s wild elephant population, sustained commitments like CarePhant demonstrate
how responsible tourism can contribute to tangible, measurable conservation outcomes.
Sun Siyam Pasikudah, which holds Travelife Gold Certification and operates under the
broader Sun Siyam Care sustainability framework, integrates conservation, local sourcing,
and community engagement into its daily operations. The CarePhant project builds on that
foundation by linking responsible hospitality directly to wildlife protection.
Three years from now, in 2029, Kalo is expected to walk beyond the protective boundaries
of the Elephant Transit Home and into Udawalawe National Park as a young wild
elephant. Every veterinary check, every month of nutritional support, and every bond
formed within his herd brings him closer to that moment.